Charter Communications paid me enough to buy some country style ribs to tell you about this contest they are running.

You read blogs, you probably belong to a BBQ forum, maybe even Twitter, and friend other barbeque fans on Facebook.

If you are a Charter Communications customer, you might even follow Charter on Facebook.

OK, that would be odd, but you might.

Charter wants you to tell them how living large digitally has changed your life. I’m guessing they want to know how it changed for the better, but maybe not. Marketing is strange.

Just tell Charter Communications “Tell Us How You Do It,” and you can win some great prizes. Each week Charter is giving away either a 15” laptop or a 52” HDTV to one lucky customer who submits their story.

At the end of the promotion, Charter will be giving away a package of one 52” HFTV, one 15” Laptop, and a free year of the Charter Bundle with includes Digital Cable with HD and a DVR, Charter High-Speed Internet and Charter Telephone.

• Visit charter.com/yourlife/ and submit your story with photos or video that shows us how you use your digital tools.
• You can also see examples at charter.com/yourlife/ of how other people are doing it. There have been some great stories so far, from keeping up with soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, helping families learn to be “Green,” lakeside movie houses, and keeping a marriage together. Add your story today!
• Charter has created a buzz around its online contests. And they keep getting better. Last year it gave away laptops and Xbox 360 game systems and one customer drove away a 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid.

I know a lot of you love to post your BBQ tips and ideas. I’ve seen some very good video tips and even recipes. I’m thinking somebody out there in Barbecue-land could win a cool prize.

And I get a few bucks to spend on pork.